Automobile-wheel.



"Y Maw-G.

J. C. AWALT &"T. F. STEVENS. AUTOMOBILE WHEEL.

Arrucmon msn SEPT. 12. 19u.

1,140,560. i Patented May 25; 1915.

E Nw n l V* 1Q Si lll' li' f il! HHH" y\ Inventor.

Attorneys UNITED STATES PATENT oFFroE.

JAMES CLINTON AWALT AND THGMAS FREDERICK STEVENS, OF BRAMAN, OKLAHOMA.

AUTOMOBILE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25. 1915.

Application led September 12, 1914, Serial N o. 861,403.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that We, JAMES C. AWALT and THOMAS F. STEVENS, citizens of the United States, residing at Braman, in the county of Kay, State of Oklahoma, have invented a new Yand useful AutomobileWVheel, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of =this application is a resilient wheel and one object of the invention is to provide a device of this type in which pneumatic tires and other like elements subject to puncture may be dispensed with.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for assembling the spring spokes of the wheel with the hub thereof.

It is within the scope of the invention to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description pro ceeds, the invention resides in the combination` and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope f what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing l-Figurc 1 shows in side elevation, a resilient wheel embodying thel present invention, parts being broken away; Fin'. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of l ig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional detail enlarged from Fig. 1.

In carrying out thel present invention there is provided a solidA annular hub 1 pref erably fashioned from metal. Extended transversely of the hub 1 are slots 2 which nre disposed in approximately radial relation with respect to the center ot' the hub.

The slots 2 at their inner ends are extended to form circumferentially disposed pockets 3.

. of the spokes terminating in angularly disposed fingers i which lie in the pockets 3.

A huh plate 9 is applied to one end of the hub 1 and to the hub plate 8 is applied a brake drum 10. Securing elements 11 which may be holt and nut structures lie in the recesses 4 and connect the hub plate 9 with the drum 10. Thus the hub plate 9 is held in place to constitute a closure for the slots 2, the hub plate 9 engaging the edges of the spokes 20 to prevent transverse movement of the spokes in the hub 1. i

The rim is shown at 12 and may carry a. tire 14. The use of the tire 14, however, is optional, since the necessary resiliency will be afforded by the spring spokes 20. In its inner face, the rim 12 is provided with ciraunferentially disposed recesses 15 receiving the outer ends ofthe springs 20. The ends of thc springs Q0 abut against the end walls ot' the recesses c15. The springs may be held in place by means of securing elements 1V of any desired sort, the same engaging the rim 12.

The securing elements 11 exercise two functions. First they serve to hold thehub plate 9 in place, and secondly, since these securingr elements 11 bear against the side faces ot' the spokes 2O as shown in Fig. 3, any lost motion, occasioned by reason ofthe fart that thc i-nncr ends 6 of the spokes 2O may fit somewhat loosely in the slots 2 will he taken up. lt is to be observed that when the securing elements 11 are mounted in place in the huh 1, the spokes 20 will be crowded circumtercntially, in the direction of the arrow A\.. Since the fingers 7 and the securing elements 1l lie upon opposite sides of the ininr end (i of the spokes 20, the in scrtion of the securing elements 11 into theI hul) 1 will cause the fingers 7 to be advanced into thi` pockets 3. consideration is such lthat any inequalities resulting from the process of manufacture will not result in a loose mounting in the inner ends of theI lspokes .20 in the slots 2 of the huh.

.\ll portions ol' thi` wheel. except the tire ll (when thix latter is used) are made of lhc constructionunder ing terminated at its inner end in a circumferentially extended pocket and the Walls of the slot being parallel between the pev riphery of the hub and the pocket, the hub having a recess opening into the slot, all portions of the recess lying upon the opposite side of the slot from the pocket; a spoke comprising a straight, parallel Walled portion terminally mounted in the slot and including a finger lodged in the pocket; a zublplate applied to one end of the hub and f itufing a closure for the slot and a igaging means; a securing element [fin the recessand projecting into the slot finte'engagement with the hub plate, the securing element bearing directly against the straight parallel walled portion of the spoke and constituting the sole means for holding the spoke against movement circumferentially of the hub in one direction and a rim assembled with the spoke the finger constituting the sole means for preventing the spoke from moving endwise.

In testimoni7 that we claim the foregoing as our own, vo have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES CLINTON AWALT. THOMAS FREDERICK STEVENS.

Witnesses:

ROY ELMER NAYLOR, JACOB C. PIPER. 

